MERKEL IRKED: German chancellor concerned over U.S. Spying allegations

Nonplussed
over recent discoveries made in the German news media, Germany's
Chancellor Angela Merkel said it is "really not on" for friends to spy
on each other. The notorious National Security Agency has reportedly
been snooping on her phone calls.

Nonplussed over recent discoveries made in the German news media, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said it is "really not on" for friends to spy on each other.

Highlights

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - On arrival at an European Union summit in Brussels, Merkel said "we need trust between allies and partners, and such trust needs to be restored." She relayed the message to U.S. President Barack Obama when they spoke this week.

Other European leaders have voiced their concern about the scale of U.S. Surveillance, which threatens to overshadow European Union talks on economic growth and migration to the EU.

Merkel has demanded a "complete explanation" of the claims.

While disappointing, it has already been revealed that the NSA has been bugging closed discussions inside both the United Nations and the European Union.

Counter-terrorism has been a shared mutual interest between both Europe and the U.S. When it comes to economic intelligence, however, the two nations can often diverge into outright competition.

The U.S., U.K., Russia, China and many other nations all go to great lengths to acquire inside information on other countries covertly.

In the course of targeting other individuals, the NSA may well have eavesdropped on U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron's phone calls. The U.K.-U.S. special relationship, one unnamed insider said, is not enshrined in law.

It touches a nerve with the German chancellor. Merkel grew up in former communist East Germany, where secret police surveillance was pervasive. Merkel's delegation in Brussels confirmed she had met briefly to discuss the issue with France's President Francois Hollande, who likewise expressed concern at reports that millions of French calls have been monitored by the US.

There is concern that the furore could jeopardize E.U.-U.S. talks on reaching a major free trade deal. T

In a separate development, Italy's weekly L'Espresso reported that the U.S. and U.K. had been spying on Italian internet and phone traffic.

Pope Francis Prayer Intentions for March 2015
Universal: Scientists: That those involved in scientific research may serve the well-being of the whole human person.
Evangelization: Contribution of women: That the unique contribution of women to the life of the Church may be recognized always.

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